DALLAS, TX (February 27, 2017) — Growing out of President Bush’s personal commitment and the ongoing work of the George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors brings together sixty-six full-color portraits and a four-panel mural painted by President Bush of 98 service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor since 9/11, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office. The paintings are the subject of a hardcover book, available February 28, as well as a special exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, which will be open to the public from March 2 through October 1, 2017.

“I painted these men and women as a way to honor their service to the country and to show my respect for their sacrifice and courage,” President Bush writes in the book’s introduction. “I hope to draw attention to the challenges some face when they come home and transition to civilian life—and the need for our country to better address them.”

Each featured painting is accompanied by the inspiring story of the warrior depicted, written by President Bush. As the stories unfold, readers and visitors will encounter the faces and the hearts of those who answered the nation’s call and learn of their bravery on the battlefield, their journey to recovery, and the continued leadership and contribution they make as civilians.

President Bush is donating 100 percent of his profits from the book to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, whose Military Service Initiative works to ensure that post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life with a focus on gaining meaningful employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war.

The exhibit also includes information and resources created by the Bush Institute that visitors can use to learn how to better support post-9/11 warriors in their communities. These resources are intended to help bridge the military-civilian divide.

Also out today is a new report from the Bush Institute focused on the invisible wounds of war, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The report, available at www.bushcenter.org, offers recommendations on how to get more warriors into treatment for the invisible wounds, how to improve the effectiveness of that treatment, and how to enhance accurate public awareness of the invisible wounds and their impact.

To help more veterans access high quality care and reduce stigmas associated with the invisible wounds of war, the Bush Institute has announced the Warrior Wellness Alliance, linking peer-to-peer veteran networks with best-in-class health care providers.

Because employment is also a top issue for post-9/11 veterans, the Bush Institute has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to create the Veteran Employment Transition Roadmap to better equip veterans to join the civilian workforce.

Active duty military, retired service members, and U.S. military veterans will enjoy special admission pricing throughout the special exhibit’s run, including free admission for active duty military and their family members as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Blue Star Museums program, May 29 through September 4.

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About the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Rooted in the guiding principles of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the George W. Bush Presidential Center engages communities in the United States and around the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. The work is achieved through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and our Engagement Agenda. The Bush Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, and the George W. Bush Institute, the non-partisan, public-policy arm of the Bush Center. The Bush Center is located on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas, and also includes a 15-acre park; Café 43, a full-service restaurant; and a Museum Store.